Preseason rankings: No. 8 East Central

We’ll be unveiling our preseason football rankings over the next few weeks leading up to football season. Previously: No. 10 Kerrville Tivy and No. 9 Reagan. Now, on to No. 8…

Expect QB Jeremy Jones to air it in 2013. Photo: Kin Man Hui/E-N

Team: East Central Hornets
Last season: 8-4 (4-1 in 28-5A), lost to Madison 24-0 in 5A DI second round
Coach: Clint Hartman (40-15 in five seasons at Clear Springs; first season at East Central)
District: 28-5A
Enrollment: 2,705
Stadium: Hornet Stadium (map)

Clint Hartman, an East Central grad, comes home to China Grove and he’s bringing a drastically different (well, at least compared to what EC fans grew accustomed to under Robert Walker, now at Conroe) offense to town. The new-look Hornets will use an up-tempo spread attack. The plan is to unleash QB Jeremy Jones, who has shown all the potential in the world (and has the offers to prove it), but has never really had the chance to throw. He’ll have plenty of targets, including juniors Wanya Ward and Javion Polk, who will play in the slot and backfield. RB Johnathan Jackson will help balance it all out. Defensively, the Hornets project to have a starting 11 comprised entirely of seniors. Chief among that group are safety Caid Franckowiak and Dennis Chavez, two tackling machines with lots of experience. Once again, East Central will be living in Steele’s shadow until it hosts the Knights on Oct. 25. Expect it to be a closer game this time around. Non-district matchups against Brennan and Judson will also be ones to watch.